Resources

March 19, 2013

Is your writing life or career brimming with
creativity, vitality and forward momentum?

This past month I've talked to three people whose writing
careers were so stuck that they started to cry when they spoke to me about the
pain of not writing their books or working in dull, dull writing careers.

These conversations broke my heart, because so often the
only thing standing between you and the practice of expressing your
“brilliance" in your writing career is...well, it's you.

I decided to put together a new resource to help you break
out of your dullness, finish writing your book and help
you fire up your writing career. And I'd like you to have it
for free:

Fire in the Belly

Name:

Email:

I’ve packed tips,
casestudies and a lot of heart
into this simple-to-use audio and transcript. Give Fire in the Belly a listen and you’ll
get motivated and inspired to:

Finish your
book.

Craft and be
guided by an authentic, vibrant and bright vision for your craft, your
publishing goals and your career.

Transform your
lackluster professional writing business into satisfying work that earns
you what you’re worth.

Just enter your name
and email above and you’ll be able to download
your special report instantly.

Come Visit

When you grab your copy of Fire in the Belly, you’ll see thatI’ve redesigned my website over at www.CoachMarla.com. Click the Services link (above) to check it
out.

FYI, starting next week I’ll be posting new blog entries to
the new blog -- www.CoachMarla.com/blog/
and will no longer be adding new content to The
Relaxed Writer. It’s been a
wonderful 8 years, and now it’s time to grow.
Look forward to seeing you in my new online home!

(While you're at it, I invite you to take a look at my new
coaching programs and website. I’m very
excited to share my new work with you.)

p.s. - Yes - please feel free to share this special gift
with friends. This all-new new MP3 and 13-page transcript are chock-full
of insights and practical tips to fire up your writing life and career: coachmarla.com/fire-in-the-belly/

If you'd the chance to learn and apply new productivity techniques with the help of a coach and the support of like-minded fellow writers, please check it out. As of this writing, I've got 6 openings for the one-on-one, private coaching option. If you'd like my direct support as you head into the new writing year, the Two Days to Write premium option is an affordable (and fun) way for us to work together.

Thanks for reading today. I'm wishing you a productive rest of the year, no matter how you choose to pursue your writing goals.

November 16, 2011

Do you have an inventory of almost-done writing projects? (Most of us do.)

If you're up for today's take action challenge, go ahead and grab a piece of paper and a pencil. (Go ahead, I'll wait!)

Here's a funky monkey to get you in the right frame of mind. :-)

1. Now...quickly jot down a list of open projects.

That "just needs a polish" personal essay? Write it down.

Same with your unwritten ebook.

Add your "send more queries" project to the list.

And don't forget to include your poems, short stories and other creative writing projects.

2. Review your list for anything you've left out. (You might want to get up and thumb through your file cabinet for a minute or two to jog your memory.) At this point, most writers are surprised at the number of items on their lists!

3. Take a look at what you've got. I'm guessing you've got one, two or more very important writing projects on your list, right? Circle them.

4. Now jot down a phrase or two to describe the benefits you'll enjoy when you wrap these projects up. For example:

Add a new income stream to my freelance business.

Publish my story in a magazine I admire.

Earn more money / get more writing assignments.

Use my talents to do what I'm meant to do (creative writing).

5. Circle all the projects you're actively working on in a given week.

6. Now choose one project -- a single, finish-able project -- that you could realistically complete before December 31st.

What would it feel like to have this project wrapped up and done?

What new opportunities would it open up for you?

What challenges would you need to overcome to get it DONE?

7. Jot down two simple actions you can take this week to start working on -- and finishing -- that important writing project.

8. Write down a few simple steps you can take to get the help you need. Some suggestions:

Call a friend or colleague and arrange to be each other's accountability buddy.

Clean your office. :)

Join an online forum to meet new writers.

If you need more writing time, get your hands on my free "Making Time to Write" ecourse for writers. I'll lead you through 5 simple lessons designed to help you start shifting the way you think about time and writing.

If you need help prioritizing your projects and following through, get my simple, easy to implement strategies to help you get your writing done. Join me tomorrow for a free productivity teleclass for writers. (Details below.)

Chip away at your 6-week writing goal with simple, consistent actions. You'll feel great knowing you're writing what matters most and if you follow through with your plans, you'll have a completed writing project and a sparkling clean slate for the new year.

You can do this!

-------

FREE TELECLASS FOR WRITERS:

"Get It Done: 3 Keys to Following Through with Your Important Writing Plans"

In this free, one-hour class I'll share practical tips and strategies to help you:

finally stop postponing your big-picture writing projects

follow through with your writing plans in 3 simple steps

create serious writing momentum and jumpstart your writing project (making you feel GREAT again) -- even in the midst of a busy professional life or freelance writing career

February 20, 2010

This week, Taylor over at Men with Pens made one of the best cases I've read in awhile for the power of coaching. If you missed it, you can read about her mid-winter camping adventure and more in "Who Pushes You More?" and if you're so inspired, let me know if you're ready to explore coaching for your writing life. Happy to help.

>>"I don't know how to publish an author who won't engage online."

Whoa. If you're working on a book proposal and are still not convinced that developing your social media skills is a relevant, important element of developing your writing project, Debbie Stier's (HarperStudio, HarperCollins) quote makes an awfully convincing case, doesn't it?

Read more in Iris Blasi's review of the "Get Noticed: How to Earn Attention for Each Book" panel from the recent 2010 Digital Book World conference, held in late January in NYC.

>>Resources for Writers: meet a few of my friends.

In the past month I've connected with some talented -- and awesome -- new colleagues. Take a moment to check out their writing blogs: